A faint rumbling echoed from beneath the earth. The Golden Howler blocked my path—something was coming, and it was enormous.
The rattling grew louder, the tremors shaking the bones scattered on the ground. I felt utterly drained, while the Golden Howler stared quietly into the distance.
From the cave directly ahead, a series of movements sounded, followed by a deafening screech. I caught a flash of crimson—then, with a thunderous crash, my eyes widened. A massive, pitch-black centipede appeared, its red eyes locked onto us as it twisted its enormous body in our direction.
A cracking noise rang out as a giant maw opened wide. The Golden Howler gazed on, calm. My panic lasted only a moment before I grew quiet, staring back in silence.
With a boom, the Golden Howler raised its hand. The centipede stopped midair, roaring endlessly. Golden light flared, growing stronger. Suddenly, the centipede seemed frightened and retreated into the cave. The Golden Howler immediately gave chase.
"Wait a moment."
I shouted. The giant black centipede had already disappeared into the cave, leaving no trace.
"What's wrong, Ethan Zhang?"
The Golden Howler asked in confusion. I shook my head and gestured around us.
"We still don’t know what’s truly hidden here. If you fight that centipede, this place won’t hold out for long."
The Golden Howler nodded. I quietly looked at him and asked,
"Do you really not know what's hidden here?"
Seeing Master Richard Ming so tense, I realized whatever was hidden here must be extraordinary. Even Ethan Zhang, Earth Soul, once said this thing existed long before Universal Temple was built.
The sheer number of Buddha statues carved into the cave walls was puzzling. And that centipede—what exactly was it? I couldn't sense anything from it except its hostility.
"When I first arrived at Universal Temple, I sensed something beneath Brahma Tower, but I didn't ask too many questions. But you, Ethan Zhang—do you really intend to take whatever is hidden here?"
The Golden Howler asked me quite formally.
"Let's look around first. We'll decide after we find the exit."
I had no idea what Ethan Zhang, Earth Soul, wanted, but John Chou had mentioned something about this place.
It reminded me of that time at Mount Immeasurable, when John Chou had me collect that blood—its power was overwhelming.
We had no idea where these caves might lead, but we had to choose a path.
"Choose a path, Ethan Zhang."
"Or we could take the cavern where the Centipede Fiend emerged."
We stepped inside. The cavern didn't look manmade; it was a natural formation. I could sense we weren't just in any ordinary space, but passing through something—much like the forbidden arrays surrounding Mount Immeasurable.
"Has Ethan Zhang, Earth Soul, ever visited Universal Temple before?"
I asked. The Golden Howler walking ahead stopped and nodded.
"He has. While you were missing, he came here many times. Grandmaster Mingde greeted him personally each visit."
The Golden Howler moved on, but suspicion gnawed at my heart.
"Why are you helping me?"
It was the question that haunted me most. I’d only met him twice, yet in last night’s crisis, he came to my aid.
"Why ask so much? Compared to others, you’re simply more trustworthy."